The Ethiopian Children’s and Orphans’ Association will intiate a project in the town of Wolenchitilocated in the central region of the country. The projects will help the local elementary and middle school as well as the health clinic and orphans in the area. We have received a letter of request for assistance from the school, which needs major reconstruction and teaching resources. There is no operational budget allocated for the school. The operational expenses would be covered by the income; the school obtains once a year charged for registration. It is not possible for the school to maintain and improve its quality with the income from the registration fees. During our recent visit of the area we were able to see the poor condition and inadequacy of the schools. In the letter we received from the school, the school committee indicated that the school needs an estimated $100,000 Ethiopian Birr for reconstruction and furniture. Similarly, the local health clinic is in need of assistance to provide effective primary health care services for children. In addition, we have identify and registered 56 orphans and homeless children between the ages of 1 and 13, who are in need of help with basic necessities of life.

The Wolenchiti Elementary and Middle School is the only primary school in the area, built 50 years ago and never been renovated. The founder of ECOA Mr. Demerew Yohannes was once a teacher at this particular school. Each year over 2,750 students are registered at the schools but only 50% will be admitted because of the limited number of classrooms, with only 20 classrooms enough for 20-50 students each. Almost, half of the students are seated on the dirt floor, because of the lack of chairs and desks. The school has no library and only two bathrooms, which don’t work properly. The school also needs electricity and running water supply. The classrooms are inadequately equipped with very limited teaching materials. The physical condition of the school is extremely poor with broken windows and doors, leaking roofs, and falling walls. Like the schools, the local health clinic, which is located near to the schools, is in need of reconstruction as well as equipment and supplies. We will also assist the many orphans and homeless children in the area, who need food, cloth, school supplies and primary health care.

ECOA plans to assist the Wolenchiti Elementary and Middle School with the followings:

• build two bathrooms and a library
• ten computers and two photo copy machines
• abtaining electricity and running water supply
• reconstruction and expansion of classrooms-we will add 10 class rooms
• essential school equipment and supplies such as chairs, tables, blackboards, books and other teaching tools.

ECOA will also assist the Local Health Clinic with medical supplies to prevent and treat diseases such as diarhea, pnemonia, malaria, and measles among children.